Papaya – For Health

The papaya or paw paw is native to tropical America, but it is now grown in most tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The large pear shaped fruits grow up to 8 inches in length approximately. Some varieties remain green when ripe, but most turn deep yellow and orange. Papayas have deep salmon
pink flesh, with an abundance of grey-black seeds in the central cavity, which are edible. The soft, juicy sweet flesh tastes like a cross between melons and peaches.

The Goodness of Papaya
Papayas are rich in Vitamin A and Calcium and contain large quantities of the enzyme papain, which breaks down protein and can be used to tenderize meat. Papain also makes this fruit very easy to digest.

How to Buy
Choose uniformly yellow fruit. Sniff them, the scent should be delicate. Do not buy papayas with damaged or shriveled skins since they bruise easily. If the fruit is not ripe, check the skin around the stem end, it should be yellow, otherwise the papaya will never ripen. Ripe papayas should be eaten immediately. Fruit that is not quite ripe should be left at room temperature until soft and yellow.

How to Cook
Simply cut the papayas in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds from the cavity. You can eat the seeds (they have a peppery flavor), but they are not particularly pleasant. Squeeze a little lime or lemon juice on the flesh before serving. Papayas can be used in the same way as melons, served solo with a squeeze of lime or sprinkled with ground ginger and served with meat. The cubed flesh can be added to fruit salads, made into ice-creams and fruit drinks or served with yogurt. Finely chopped papaya is perfect with chilies in fresh salsa. The skin can be used to tenderize cheaper cuts of meat. The papain however, prevents gelatine from setting, so do not attempt to make a fresh fruit jelly, cold soufflé or mousse with papaya. Papayas which are not fully ripe can be used in salads, while fruit that is still hard is ideal for relishes and jams.

Medicinal Benefits

1. Consumption of ripe fruit is good for the treatment of ringworms, green fruit treats high blood pressure and is used as an aphrodisiac.
2. The fruit can be directly applied topically to skin sores.
3. The seeds are anti-inflammatory and analgesic and they are used to treat stomach ache and fungal infections.
4. The leaves are used as heart tonic, analgesic and for the treatment of stomach ache.
5. The roots are used as analgesic.

Thai Sweet chilli sauce

Sweet chilli sauce is a popular condiment in Western and Malaysian cuisine. It is commonly made with chillis and some sweetening ingredient such as fruit or a refined sugar.
It is popular as a dip in European Chinese Restaurant dishes such as prawn toast and spring rolls. It can also be purchased in bottle form, similar to other condiments in the UK.
This sauce's taste compliments many Asian dishes including poultry and meat.

Recipe Red Thai Curry – Kaeng Phed

Ingredients for 2 persons:
1 package red curry paste
or about 50 g homemade red currypaste
250 ml coconutmilk
250 g meat (pork, beef, chicken…) in stripes or cubes
3-4 Makeur (Thai aubergine), quartered
1-2 Kaffir lime leaves
6-8 small Thai aubergines (Makeur puang)
Salt or fishsauce
Sugar or palm sugar
1-2 stems Horapa Thai Basil
1 red chili
2-3 TS thick coconut cream to garnish

Preparation:
Heat the coconutmilk in a pot, if it´s simmering
add the red currypaste and stir well.
Add the Kaffir lime leaves and the meat
and let it cook slowly until it´s done,
then add the Makeur and let it cook another 5 minutes.
Season the red curry with salt and sugar or fishsauce and palmsugar.
Garnish with whole or roughly chopped Horapa Thai basil leaves,
stripes of a red chili and a few tabespoons of thick coconut cream.
Serve the red coconut milk curry with steamed jasmin rice (fragrant Thai rice).

The Important And Useful Benefits Of Papaya

The papaya is an amazingly rich source of the proteolytic enzymes. These are the chemicals that enable the digestion of protein. Papain, which is the most important of these enzymes in the papaya, is extracted and dried as a powder for use to aid the digestion, and it is often used as a meat tenderizer, the enzyme partially breaking down the meat fibers - digesting them in fact.

Many experts, such as Dr Lytton-Bernard, have claimed rejuvenating properties for papaya, especially for the control of premature ageing. It may be that it works simply because a poor digestion leaves the body without the correct nutrients. Those who find it almost impossible to digest anything frequently find that papaya used regularly, either in tablet or juice form, marks the turning point in the climb back to vitality and good health.

As a cleanser you can take a quarter pint (150ml) of papaya juice alternated each hour for twelve hours by the same amount of cucumber or green bean juice. Papaya loses some of the enzymes as it ripens, so if you have the choice select them green. They are easy to obtain in most parts of America but are not found in British greengrocers very often. Fortunately there has been a rapid expansion in the numbers of specialist shops providing for the needs of the Indian and West Indian communities where papayas can be bought.

Papaya contains arginine which is known to be essential for male fertility and also carpain, an enzyme thought to be good for the heart. Fibrin also occurs and this substance is not commonly found in the plant kingdom; in man it forms part of the blood clotting process. The papaya is an excellent source of vitamin C, with 82mg per 100g (4oz), and is rich in carotene.

After treatment with antibiotics the use of papaya juice will quickly assist the restoration of the normal bacteria in the gut which will have been destroyed by the treatment. Papaya is good for many digestive disorders and is excellent for improving poor digestion. It has also been recommended as part of the treatment for cancer. Therapeutically it can often be combined with pineapple juice in which there is another important enzyme bromelain.

The skin of the papaya is a first class external treatment for skin wounds and places that do not heal quickly. The pulp from the juicer can be used for this and as a poultice.

Thailand Recipe Green Curry Paste

Thailand Recipe Green Curry Paste
(Kueang Kaeng khiew wan):
Ingredients:
5-6 small, red Thai onions or shallots
a handful small unpealed Thai garlic cloves
or 5-6 big, pealed garlic cloves
5-6 cm galanga/galingale
4 bulbs lemon grass
10 or more fresh green chili peppers
peel from a Makrut Kaffir lemon
1-1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1-2 teaspoons shrimp paste/Kapi

Preparation:

Chop fresh green chili peppers, lemon grass, garlic, shallots, galanga,
and makrut peel to small pieces
and put it all together in the mortar.
Pound it until You get a smooth paste,
then add shrimp paste (Kapi) and salt and pound again.
Now You can use the green curry paste for Your favourite recipe.
Leavings can be stored in a jar with screw cap
in a refrigerator for 3-4 weeks or can be stored in a freezer.

Recipes with green Thai curry paste:

Makrut Citrus Hystrix Kaffirlimette

Die Früchte der Makrut Kaffirlimette, auch Kaffernlimette stammen von einem kleinwüchsigen, dornigen Baum, der wahrscheinlich von
der malayischen Halbinseln stammt.
Die Blätter des Baumes, die sogenannten Kaffir Limettenblätter, bzw. Kaffir Zitronenblätter sind ebenfalls ein wichtiges Gewürz in den Küchen Südostasiens.
Von der Kaffirlimette verwendet man in Thailand nur die äußerste Schale, z.B. zur Herstellung von Currypasten, in der malayischen und indonesischen Küche gibt man auch geviertelte Kaffirlimettenstücke zu Gerichten, die dann für einen leicht bitteren Geschmack sorgen.
Die Makrut Früchte haben einen sehr starken zitronigenartigen Duft, weshalb man sie in Thailand als "natürliche Closteine" in Pissoirs verwendet.
Die Kaffirlimette hat viele Kerne und nur wenig Saft,
der zudem leicht bitter schmeckt.
Der Saft findet in den Küchen Thailands keine Verwendung.
Auf den Märkten in Thailand werden nur die unreifen, grünen Früchte der Kaffirlimette angeboten, diese reifen bei zunehmendem Alter
ins Zitronengelbe ab.
Mittlerweile werden Kaffirlimettenbäumchen auch in deutschen Pflanzenmärkten angeboten, da die Pflanze aber nur sehr langsam wächst, wird ein Freund der thailändischen Küche wohl kaum darum herumkommen, sowohl Kaffir Zitronenblätter wie auch die Früchte im Asiashop dazu zu kaufen.

TEN S OF THAILAND

Thailand
has earned its unsurpassed admiration for the rich assortment of attractions but the ongoing development of the country’s tourism industry indicates that there are still more waiting you to explore. From the abundance of settings and activities, the country is spotting novel destinations and promoting niche markets which afford special interests and requirements to travelers seeking memorable holidays. Our cover story will unveil to you remarkable things in this breathtaking country under the title “Ten S of Thailand”.

Smile Thailand boasts an affluence of diversity with the legendary Thai smile which is amongst the authentic delights of unearthing Thailand. One of the key reasons why a plethora of tourists return to the country year after year is because Thai people are so friendly and ready to break a smile on every occasion, thereby leaving Thailand to be dubbed the “Land of Smiles”. So as to serve this world-renowned slogan, the country has been developed into the cosmetic dentistry hub for beautification. Numerous aesthetic dental clinics are now blossoming drastically. They offer an innovative sort of dental services which has impressed the world.

Sabai The word sabai means comfortable and at ease in Thai. Whilst here you can extremely feel sabai as the nation comes with a vast selection of luxury serviced apartments, hotels, resorts and other genres of accommodations to choose from with excellent value for money. Tourists can relax, laze and lounge or they can luxuriate in the comfort of facilities and amenities provided. Whether it is for your getaways, vacations or any important occasions, the accommodations of all kinds present a stay in style for every taste and budget. They feature heavenly locations, international standards, peerless services and unrivaled local hospitality.

Sanook Journeying in Thailand has been quite eye-opening granting a true sense of fun or sanook in Thai. A land of tropical beaches, luxuriant mountains and amazing rivers, Thailand is beyond doubt an oasis in the hectic world. This lovely country is also blessed with natural wonders that make it an ideal base for ecotourism where visitors can have an experience with memories to last a lifetime. With this relaxing offer, visitors will enjoy an extraordinary chance to appreciate natural beauty and savor such exhilarating activities as nature study, bicycle tour, elephant safari, trekking, wildlife viewing and whitewater rafting
, to mention just a few.

Spice Thai food has a unique taste and flavor that makes the country the “Kitchen of the World”. It is especially hot and spicy. Most of Thai food is prepared with indispensable ingredients including chili, garlic, lemongrass, fresh coriander leaf, limejuice, fish sauce and shrimp paste. Besides providing a sizzling and exotic aroma, Thai food that contains chiefly herbs and spices also exerts medicinal and curative properties. With their low-fat qualities, they help make Thai food one of the healthiest anywhere. One of the signature Thai dishes is the spicy shrimp soup tom yum goong. Those who have nibbled Thai food will long for it again and again.

Spa This scenic country is conceived as the “Spa Capital of the World”, where traditional therapy is ingeniously upheld as an alternative way to eliminate pains, toxins and harmful elements from the body. Spa has been a leading-edge therapeutic trend. Going hand in hand with tourism boom, it is presently flourishing in eminent tourist destinations. Spa confers a complete choice of treatments for a profound state of relaxation as well as physical and spiritual rejuvenation. These include general body scrubs, facial treatments, foot reflexology and traditional Thai massage, one of the world’s oldest healing methods with substantial health benefits.

Swing Amongst the most mesmerizing attributes of golfing in Thailand is a multiplicity of locations and surroundings in which the courses are located, making the country the “Golf Capital of Asia”. There are many championship standard courses in Bangkok and around the nation all fitted with top-notch facilities, terrific signature holes and perfect maintenance to keep them international standards, enabling you to enjoy your swing all year round. Every course has its well-trained caddies and it is compulsory to employ one caddie for your round. Most of the new courses have fine accommodations on site plus leisure activities for the family.

Silk Silk from Thailand has been popular around the globe. It has accentuated the fabric’s stoic elegance. Silk is a natural filament made from the salivary glands of silkworms, a type of moth that feeds on the mulberry plants. Since a single filament is too thin to use alone, several threads are mingled to create a thicker and more durable fiber. Thai silk is different in colors from light gold to very light green. Good caliber Thai silk is woven on handlooms. The warp and weft are not of the same color, making Thai silk so exceptional in terms of color tones and blends. Wherever you buy it from, Thai silk is always a lasting keepsake and treasure.

Safety Dwelling in Thailand is utterly safe and sound. The quality of life of the Thai people and travelers is now escalating to a gratifying level. Through the decisive administration of the Thai government, travelers can relish their vacations in the country more safely and securely. Targeting to endorse Thailand as a world-class destination, the government has strong willpower to tackle with all detrimental problems that may affect the tourism industry and to proffer budget tour packages to all types of travelers. Therefore, travelers are reassured that whilst here they can immerse in their pleasure to the fullest yet feel protected and secure.

Shopping The Land of Smiles is a shopping paradise where dedicated shoppers can buy a wide variety of high quality products and services with special discounts. A unique shopping opportunity awaits visitors to bargain and purchase handicrafts, textiles, gems, jewelry, antiques and more contemporary wares. Shopping in Thailand can be marveled from high-end shopping complexes and department stores to bustling markets and high streets. In Bangkok, the famous shopping streets are strategically situated along MBK-Siam Discovery Center to Ratchaprasong Intersection as well as along Sukhumvit Road to Emporium Shopping Arcade.

Sea, Sand & Sun A sanctuary for sea, sand and sun lovers, Thailand prides itself on a number of the world’s most beautiful beaches and islands with pristine white sands, crystal clear waters and spectacular coral reefs. There are various things along the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea to suit your preferences. Fabulous beaches and incomparable marine environments have enticed a multitude of holidaymakers from around the world. They can pamper in superb accommodations, beachside bars and restaurants as well as an endless option of recreational activities like Phuket yachting, Andaman Sea diving, sailing, sunbathing and much more.

Schlangenbohnen Vigna Unguiculata Thailand

igna Unguiculata mit Ihren zahlreichen Unterarten stammt
ursprünglich aus Afrika.
Die Schlangenbohne wurde höchstwahrscheinlich in Südostasien gezüchtet und zählt in vielen asiatischen Küchen zu den wichtigsten Gemüsezutaten.
Die zarten Schlangenbohnen, auch Spargelbohen oder Langbohnen genannt, werden rund 80 - 90 cm lang.
In der thailändischen Küche verwendet man sie roh zu Thai Salaten, gekocht oder gedünstet als Gemüsebeilage zu Nam Prik Saucen, als Gemüseeinlage in Curries, in Fischplätzchen (Tord Man Pla) und Shrimpplätzchen (Tord Man Goong) oder gebraten in vielen Wokgerichten.
Schlangenbohnen sollten nur kurz gegart werden,
da sie sonst ihre Knackigkeit verlieren.

Thai Recipe Yellow Coconut Chicken Curry Kaeng Kari

Recipe: Yellow Thai Coconut Chicken Curry (Kaeng Kari):
Ingredients:
oil to fry
500 g chicken drumsticks
2 small onions
250 g potatoes
2-3 TS (table spoon) red currypaste
3-4 TS yellow curry powder
500 ml coconut milk
approx. 100 ml water
1-2 TS palmsugar
salt or fish sauce to season
1 big red chili pepper to garnish

Prepararation:
Peel the potatoes, cut them to quarters and cook them, until done in salted water.
Heat oil in a pot and roast the chicken drumsticks gently,
add the red currypaste and stir well, add the yellow currypowder and roast
until it smells aromatically, then deglaze with water.
Add the coconutmilk and the onions and let it simmer for about 30 min, by stiring frequently.
Now add the pre cooked potatoes and season with palm sugar, salt or fishsauce.
Garnish with small chili stripes and serve the yellow chicken curry with Thai jasmin rice.

Thailand Recipe Pad Prik King Tua

Thailand recipe: Pork belly and yardlong beans, fried in red currypaste –
Pad Prik King Tua
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons oil
200 g pork belly
300 g yardlong beans
50 g red curry paste
4-5 kaffir leaves
3-4 Tablespoons hot water
1 1/2 Tablespoons palmsugar
Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Umami MSG food enhancer
1 fresh, long red chilipepper

Preparation:
Cut the yardlong beans in pieces of about 3 cm
and blanche in boiling water for 1 min,
then cool them down in icewater.
Cut the pork belly in stripes of 3 cm
and fry in hot oil, together with the kaffir leaves until done.
Add the red currypaste and stir well, deglaze with hot water.
Season with palmsugar, salt and MSG Umami, add the blanched yardlong beans
and fry for another minute. Mix well.
Garnish with stripes of a red chilipepper
and serve with steamed Thai rice.

Thailand Recipe Thai Squid Salad

Here is the recipe for a mouthwatering Thai squid salad:

Thailand recipe: Thai Squid salad – Yum pla myk
Ingredients:
200 g squid
1 tomato
1/2 onion
one hand full of celery leaves
1-2 spring onion
4-5 Thai chilies prik kee noo
juice from 3 limes
1 teaspoon golden syrup (sugar syrup)
1 1/2 tablespoons fishsauce
1/2 teaspon Umami MSG Monosodiumglutamat

Preparation:
Cut the tomato into small pieces,
cut Thai chilies, spring onion and onion in fine rings
and add together with celery leaves to a bowl.
Clean, wash and cut the squid into small pieces
and cook the squid pieces in boiling water for about 2 min,
then put them into the bowl.
Add lime juice, fishsauce, golden syrup and Umami MSG
and mix well. Garnish on a plate and serve the Thai salad while still warm. Enjoy !!

Hot and Spicy Thai Seafood Soup Recipe

ot and spicy Thai seafood soup is a classical Thai recipe,
called “Bo Taek”, means “bursted harbour”.
It should contain all what Thai fishermen could get from the sea in Thailand:
Squid, shrimps/prawns, fish, mussels, crab
and last, but not least the tasty Thai fishballs (Luk Chin Pla)

thai-seafood-soup-bo-taek.jpg

Ingredients:
100 g Fishfilet, cut into pieces of about 2 cm
100 g Shrimps/Prawns with head and shell
100 g Mussels with shell
100 g Squid, cleaned and cutted to small rolls
1 Crab, roughly chopped
100 g small Thai fishballs (Luk Chin Pla)
3 bulbs lemongras
5-6 Kaffir limeleaves
2-3 cm Galanga/Galingale in fine slices
5-6 green and red Thai Chilies Prik Kee Noo
1 root of Laos coriander/saw leaf herb
Juice from 3-4 Limes
2-3 EL Fishsauce
1/2 TL MSG Monosodiumglutamat food enhancer
2-3 leaves Laos coriander/saw leaf herb

Preparation:
Put all the seafood (except the fishfilet and the fishballs) into boiling water
and cook for about 3-5 min.
Fill a big pot with 1 l water and add lemongras (crack the bulbs with a pestle), galanga slices,
kaffir limeleaves, root of Laos coriander (crack the root with a pestle)
and Thai chilies (crack the chilies with a pestle) and boil it for about 1 hour or longer.
Now flavour the brew with limejuice, fish sauce and MSG.
Add fish filet and fish balls and cook for 2-3 min, than add the precooked seafood
and Laos coriander leaves and heat it up.
Serve this hot & spicy Thai seafood soup with boiled Thai rice.

Dining in Koh Samui

Koh Samui has made its own reputation as dining destination. It is known to enjoy Thai and international food while looking at good scenic beauty. Catering to tourists from all parts of the world, all types of cuisine is found in Koh Samui. Wine is readily available in Koh Samui, and some restaurants even have specialized wine cellars. Visit Koh Samui and have dining experience there.

Thai Food
Thais are proud of their food and it justifies them. Fresh ingredients are used to make Thai food and it is always well prepared. Base Thai food is far from spicy. However, the condiments and sauces served with the meal could be very hot and spicy. You can more or less in the as per your taste. Thai food can be availed in all part of Koh Samui island. Thai food is held with high regard all over the world and Koh Samui is a nice place to enjoy this food.

Hawker Stalls
Hawker stalls are ubiquitous in Koh Samui. From delicious food and fruits to spicy salads, every food item is sold in these hawker stalls. Some visitors are fearful of these stalls because of hygienic sense. Some of the food items available in these stall cannot be tasted even in chic restaurants. So, for tasting these items, it is inevitable for you to visit these stalls. You could get variety of food in these hawker stalls including Chinese, Indian, Malay and of course Thai. Most street vendors walk with their wares in balancing rattan baskets slung on a pole. You would also see hawkers selling wares from a stainless steel cart with wheels. These vendors have more space and hence more variety.

Sea Food
Like most islands, Koh Samui is also a nice place for enjoying sea food. In many restaurants specializing in sea food, you would find scrumptious sea food. In most beach front restaurants, food served is mouthwatering. No beach experience is complete without tasting seafood. Secret of the scrumptious seafood lies in the freshness of its supplies of fish, crabs, prawns, lobsters and other shellfish, coming from the fisherman's daily catch.

Western Food
Catering to large influx of Western tourists, some good Western restaurants have come up in Koh Samui. Some well-known Western restaurants are The Albatross Cafe & Pub, Aroma Restaurant, Bann Yin Dee Restaurant, East West Food Delight, Ratri Jazztaurant and Rock Fish Restaurant.